In another satisfying collaboration between the author and narrator Robert Petkoff, the listener hears the story of Nina, who once testified against her wealthy boss when his lethal crimes were revealed. Forced to leave her husband and young kids rather than endanger them, she changed her name to Leah, moved to Maine, and cut off all contact. Ten years later, when her husband is killed in a car accident, her children follow instructions to find “Aunt Leah.” Soon two groups of hired guns come after them—but who’s hunting whom? Petkoff, whose portrayal of an angry teenager is as convincing as that of a hit man, keeps listeners engaged through myriad plot twists. The good writing and well-drawn characters in this audiobook make the journey worthwhile. L.W.S. 2022 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Feb. 16, 2021
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781549151224
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Despite Powers' strong performance, Diaz’s fans may be disappointed.
Narrator Imani Jade Powers puts her all into Diaz's first novel since his Pulitzer Prize, but the story’s emphasis on philosophy, physics, and politics over personality works against her. Powers maintains momentum through the driest sections, though it may be nearly impossible to put a great deal of passion into a speech about Heraclitean philosophy. The story is about a pincher (electricity thief) who gets involved with an orphan and a scientist possibly suffering from dementia. Nearly all the characters come from the same unnamed city, so accents are not an issue, but Powers clearly distinguishes characters and does what she can with the often restricted emotional ranges.
Despite Powers' strong performance, Diaz’s fans may be disappointed.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406203
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Aleman relates Rey’s story with humor, compassion, grumpiness, and authentic accents.
In a month, 75-year-old widower Reyes Miguel Calderón must leave his apartment for the retirement village he and his wife chose a decade earlier. However, Rey is still grieving her eight years after her death, and he doesn’t want to leave the neighborhood that’s been home for so long. Narrator Zac Aleman lets us hear Rey’s grief, isolation, and frustration with an uncaring bureaucracy. The friendship that slowly develops between Rey and Q, a troubled teenager he’s known all her life, sounds real as attitudes of impatience, snark, and disrespect slowly evolve into empathy, respect, and a new lease on life.
Aleman relates Rey’s story with humor, compassion, grumpiness, and authentic accents.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668659526
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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